Introduction |  |
Since 1872 Malmö has promoted itself as the ‘city of green spaces’. It’s true that lovely, landscaped parks such as Pildammsparken are ideal for a relaxing stroll, but the epithet doesn’t quite communicate what Malmö is all about these days. On 1 July 2000, Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf and Denmark’s Queen Margrethe inaugurated the huge Öresund bridge that connects Denmark and Sweden. It was the beginning of a new, cosmopolitan era for a city that once belonged to the Danish Empire.
Several bands (such as the Cardigans) have chosen Malmö as their base between tours, perhaps because they’ve found in it a relaxed small-town vibe combined with an anticipatory sense of a big city in the making. Enough cool yet cosy bars, quirky designer shops (check out Form Design Center at Hedmanska Gården) and bohemian cafés – all within walking distance of each other – are emerging to tempt seasoned travellers to return on a regular basis. Just remember to pack your scarf and gloves: Malmö’s winters can be biting. No wonder the city’s pride, Anita Ekberg – ‘the best thing to come out of Sweden since smörgåsbord’ according to Bob Hope – found the warm waters of the Fontana di Trevi so tempting in La Dolce Vita. In the summertime, though, Malmö’s Ribersborg beach is often referred to as Little Copacabana. Who would have guessed that a city in Sweden, a country where ill-informed tourists still inquire about polar bears and igloos, features a 2.5 mile stretch of white sand in the city centre? For the younger generation, Ekberg is far less famous than top scorer and Malmö native Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Juventus player was born and raised in Rosengård, which used to be Sweden’s only ghetto, although the area has improved immensely in recent years.
• Tourist information: Centralstationen, 21120 Malmö (34 12 00, www.malmo.com).
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